Package



Sept. 29., 1970 M. LINK 3,530,980

PACKAGE Filed Sept. 20, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR We 771v (av/r BMZAA ATTORNEY M. LINK PACKAGE Sept. 29, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20. 1968 INVENTOR M4 luv/v ATTORNEY M. LINK PACKAGE Sept. 29, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 20. 1968 INVENTOR Mfr/IV luv/r WW... ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1970 M. LINK 3,530,980

PACKAGE Filed Sept. 20, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTOR fl'wr/xv [M X ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,530,980 PACKAGE Martin Link, North Brunswick, N.J., assignor to Johnson & Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 20, 1968, Ser. No. 761,276 Int. Cl. 865d 85/04 US. Cl. 206-52 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A package for shipping, storing and dispensing rolls of sheet material mounted on elongated spindles is made from a single blank and comprises a bottom portion, two opposed side portions integral with the bottom portion and two opposed end portions formed from inwardly turned flaps which are extensions of the side portions and from locking members which are extensions of the bottom portion and are wrapped upwardly and downwardly around the flaps. The flaps have spindle receiving apertures therethrough and the downwardly extending portions of the locking members have spindle guiding slots thcrethrough for guiding the spindle into the apertures.

In the shipping and storing of rolls of sheet material it is desirable, and often necessary, that any contact with the exposed surfaces of the material be avoided. Even the slightest pressure may cause deformation of the roll and render the material useless.

This is particularly true in the case of athletic adhesive tape which is often used in large quantities that must be rapidly and easily removable from the rolls. Tape of this type is traditionally packaged with a plurality of rolls mounted on a spindle and the spindle is positioned and secured within a container so that the rolls will be suspended away from the sides of the container. One such container now usable for supporting the spindle is a cylindrically shaped container into which the rolls of tape and the centering spindle may be placed. Each end of the container is provided with an indentation that extends into the ends of the hollow spindle and thereby prevents the spindle from moving laterally within the container. Another embodiment of the same type of cylindrically shaped container provides for the use of flanges on each end of the spindle that are greater in diameter than the rolls of tape and thereby prevent the spindle from moving laterally and the rolls of tape from contacting the internal surfaces of the container.

The above described type of container is relatively expensive and must be made of fairly sturdy materials. For example, the end plates which have the indentations for securing the spindles in position are made of metai and the entire container is generally fairly costly and difficult to open and use.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an extremely inexpensive package that may be manufactured from a single corrugated fiberboard blank. The blank may be die cut in a single operation from a sheet of fiberboard material and folded into a unique package construction that is capable of supporting at least one spindle and which, when the spindle is in position, provides a one-piece package construction that is locked in position without the use of external securing means. Furthermore, the tape stored in the unique package of the subject invention may be readily made avail able for use by merely spreading the end portions of the package and releasing the spindles therefrom or by tearing the ends from the package along weakened areas provided for this purpose. It is also contemplated that the package may be used as a tape dispenser so that the tape may be pulled directly from the rotatably mounted rolls without removing the rolls from the spindle.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank used in constructing the package of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the blank of FIG. 1 partially folded into the completed package;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the blank of FIG. 1 completely folded into the package of the subject invention with one roll supporting spindle in position within the package and another roll supporting spindle shown in position for insertion into the package;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional fragmentary view of the package of the subject invention showing a spindle in position within the package;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the subject invention showing means for supporting only a single roll supporting spindle; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a single spindle supporting package.

Referring to FIG. 1, a one-piece blank 10 which may preferably be made of corrugated fiberboard is illustrated in a completely flat unfolded position. Blank 10 may be die cut from a large piece of corrugated fiberboard and the preferred fold lines may be pressed therein all in a single operation.

FIGS. 1 and 2 best illustrate the various integral parts of the package and the manner in which the parts are folded to provide the spindle receiving apertures and the slots for guiding the spindles into the apertures. The package, shown generally at 11 in FIG. 2, has a bottom por tion 12 which is formed from the center portion of the blank 10. A pair of opposed side portions 13 and 14 are formed integral with the bottom portion 12 and folded upwardly approximately along the fold lines 15 and 16, respectively, to form the sides for the package 11.

Side portion 13 has a pair of flaps 17 and 18 which are secured to the ends thereof and may be turned inwardly, when flap 13 is in the upright position, approximately 90 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. This construction makes up a portion of the ends of package 11 shown generally at 19 and 20 in FIG. 2. Flap 17 is integral with the side portion 13 and is hinged along a fold line 21, whereas, flap 18 is secured to the other end of side portion 13 and hinged along fold line 22. A spindle receiving aperture 23 is die cut, or otherwise formed, into flap 17 and a similar spindle receiving aperture 24 is die cut into the opposed flap 18. When flaps l7 and 18 are folded inwardly as shown in FIG. 2. they provide opposed spindle receiving apertures 23 and 24 which are adapted to support a single roll supporting spindle.

Side portion 14 also has a pair of flaps 25 and 26 secured to the ends thereof, which flaps have spindle receiving apertures 27 and 28 die cut therein. Flaps 25 and 26 may also be folded inwardly in a manner similar to flaps 17 and 18 along fold lines 29 and 30, respectively. These flaps provide a spindle supporting means for a second spindle that may be mounted within the package 11.

Two package locking members 32 and 33 are integrally secured to the ends of bottom portion 12 by a pair of fold lines 34 and 35, respectively. Locking member 32 has a first portion 36 that is secured to bottom portion 12 along fold line 34 and a second portion 37 that is secured to first portion 36 along double fold lines 38 and 39. A pair of spindle guiding slots 40 and 41 are die cut into second portion 37 and extend outwardly from fold line 39. The second package locking means 33 is constructed in a manner similar to member 32 with a first portion 42 secured to bottom portion 12 along fold line 35 and a second portion 43 secured to first portion 42 along fold lines 44 and 45. A pair of spindle guiding slots 46 and 47 are die cut into portion 43 and extend outwardly from fold line 45.

A pair of elongated slots 48 and 49 are die cut into bottom portion 12 at opposite ends thereof to receive tabs 50 and 51, respectively, at the outer ends of portions 37 and 43, respectively.

The manner in which package 11 is folded and locked into position is best illustrated in FIG. 2. Side portions 13 and 14 are first turned upwardly approximately 90 with respect to bottom portion 12 and then flaps 17, 18. 25 and 26 are turned inwardly approximately 90 from side portions 13 and 14. Package locking member 32 may then be folded upwardly approximately 90 wiih respect to bottom portion 12 so that first portion 36 overlies the outer surface of flaps 17 and 25 to form an outer covering therefor and then second portion may be folded inwardly and downwardly to form an inner surface over flaps 17 and 25. Tab 50 may then be inserted into slot 48 to lock end 19 of the package in position. Spindle guiding slots 40 and 41 extend downwardly from the top of end portion 19 to a position just below apertures 23 and 27 and provide a guiding means for the insertion of the roll sup porting spindles. To complete the assembly of package 11, locking member 33 is folded upwardly and then downwardly over flaps 18 and 26 and tab 51 is inserted into slot 49 to lock the member in place.

Referring to FIG. 3, the rolls of tape 55 that are to be shipped and stored within package 11. are mounted on a pair of spindles which are, in turn, mounted within package 11 in spindle receiving apertures 23, 24, 27 and 28. One such spindle is illustrated in FIG. 3 within package 11 and a second spindle S6 is shown in a position ready for insertion into the package. To secure spindle 56 within package 11. the ends of the spindle are brought into contact with spindle guiding slots 40 and 46 and the ends 19 and of the package are spread slightly to permit the spindle to pass into slots 40 and 46. The spindle is then slid into the interior of the package with the ends of the spindle retained within slots 40 and 46. The spindle 56 then passes into spindle receiving apertures 23 and 24 wherein it is firmly seated and the ends 19 and 20 of the package return to their original position to retain the spindle in place. With spindle 56 firmly seated within apertures 23 and 24, and the other roll supporting spindle firmly seated within apertures 27 and 28, it will be ap parent that the package 11 may be handled in any position without danger of the spindles being removed therefrom. This construction is best illustrated by FIG. 4 wherein spindle S6 is shown firmly seated within spindle receiving aperture 23 and the end of spindle 56 is very closely adjacent the outer flap covering formed by first portion 36 or locking member 32. This package construction also accomplishes the desired result of supporting the individual rolls of tape 55 away from the sides of the package to prevent any deformation or damage of the tape.

To remove the spindles from package 11 in order to use the rolls of tape 55, the ends 19 and 20 of the package may be slightly bowed outwardly in the manner utilized to insert the spindles and the spindles will fall free from the spindle receiving apertures. As an alternative to the above. the fold lines 21. 22, 29 and 30, that secure flaps 17, 18, and 26 to the ends of side portions 13 and 14, are provided with perforations or slots 57 extending cotn pletely therethrough to form weakened areas along which till 5. the ends 19 and 20 may be torn. The intended user of the tape may grasp ends 19 and 20 and rapidly move the ends outwardly in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 3 and in the direction of the single arrow in FIG. 4 and move the ends from the full line position to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 4. Obviously, this will quickly release the spindles from the package and enable the user to rapidly and easily remove rolls from the spindles.

If it is desired to utilize the package as a dispenser without removing the spindles therefrom, it is only necessary for the user to locate an end of the tape on rolls 55 and pull outwardly. Since the rolls are rotatably mounted on the spindles, the rolls will freely rotate and release the tape therefrom.

Various modifications of the preferred embodiment of the invention described hereinabove are illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8. The numerals used in FIGS. 1 to 4 to indicate the various parts of the package of the preferred embodiments are also used in FIGS. 5 to 8 for the corresponding package parts.

Referring to FIG. 5, generally rectangular package 11 is identical to the package illustrated in FIG. 2 with the one exception that a lid 60 is shown secured to side 13 of the package. Lid 60 may be formed as an integral extension of side 13 and may be provided with a fold line 61 which forms a hinge between side 13 and the lid. A down wardly extending flap 62 may also be formed as a hinged extension of lid 60 and is also preferably part of the onepiece blank construction used to fabricate the entire package. It will, of course. be appreciated that lid 60 may be secured to either side 13 or side 14 to accomplish the desired result.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 shows a pair of substantially identical lids and 71 secured to sides 13 and 14, respectively. Lids 70 and 71 are also integrally formed as part of a one-piece blank and foitl lines 72 and 73 form hinges between the lids and the side portions. Each lid is provided with an extension in the form of downwardly depending flaps 74 and 75 that may preferably be formed of a height equal to the height of sides 13 and 14 so that they extend completely to the bottom portion 12 and act as a divider between adjacent rolls carried within the package. This construction also provides extra strength and stability for the entire package.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate embodiments of this invention that are constructed to support only a single roll-supporting spindle. Referring to FIG. 7, the generally rectangular package 11 is equipped with the usual side portions 13 and 14 and the end portions 19 and 20. In order to provide a central location for the spindle receiving apertures, the flaps 18 and 26 have portions of an aperture formed in the ends thereof and these portions. when the flaps are turned inwardly approximately 90 with respect to the sides 13 and 14, respectively, form an entire circular aperture. Semicircular aperture is formed in the side of ilap 18 and semicircular aperture 81 is formed in the side of llap 26. This construction is best illustrated by referring to end portion 19 wherein the entire end is shown in the folded and locked position. Aperture 82 is formed from two partial apertures 83 and 84 which are formed in tlaps 17 and 25. respectively. It will thus be apparent that a package may be constructed for centrally supporting a single spindle by utilizing flaps of equal length.

Referring to FIG. 3. a package similar to that shown in FIG. 7 may be constructed for supporting a single spindle centrally within the package. This is accomplished by constructing end flap 1S somewhat. longer than flap 26 so that a single aperture may be formed entirely within flap 18. Flap 26 is shorter than flap 18 and serves as a stabilizing element which adds strength to the package and aids in maintaining the package in a closed position. The opposite end portion 19 has a similar construction. howevcr.---flap 25 is constructed so that it is considerably longer than llap 17 and extends beyond the center portion of the ackage so that aperture 91 may be formed entirely within fiap 25. The positioning of one of the longer flaps on side 13 and the other on side 14 provides a much more stable package construction after the end portions have been firmly locked in position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the present invention provides an inexpensive package that may be manufactured in a single operation from a single corrugated fiberboard blank. This package is of one-piece construction and may be locked in position without the use of external securing means. The tape stored in the unique package may be readily made available for use and is at all times protected from damage by contact from the internal package structure.

While there has been described what is at the present considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is therefore aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A package for shipping, storing and dispensing rolls of sheet material mounted on elongated spindles comprising: a generally rectangular open top container, said container having a bottom portion, two opposed side portions and two opposed end portions, said side portions being formed from integral hinged extensions of said bottom portion turned upwardly approximately 90 from said bottom portion, each of said end portions being formed from a pair of hinged flaps integral with said side portions and turned inwardly approximately 90 from said side portions, each of said pair of flaps having at least one circular spindle receiving aperture the upper perimeter of said aperture being spaced from the upper edge of said flaps, and each of said end portions further comprising a locking member formed from an extension of said bottom portion, each of said locking members having a first portion integral with said bottom portion and turned upwardly approximately 90 from said bottom portion to form an outer covering for said spindle receiving flaps, and each of said locking members further having a second portion integral with said first portion and turned downwardly over the inner surface of said flaps, said second portion having a spindle guiding slot adapted to guide said spindle into said spindle receiving aperture.

2. The package of claim 1 further comprising elongated slots in said bottom portion adjacent said end portions and tabs secured to the outer ends of said second portions and inserted into said slots to lock said end portions in position.

3. The package of claim 1 further comprising a lid formed by an integral extension of one of said side portions and extending over the entire top surface of said package.

4. The package of claim 1 further comprising a lid formed by integral extensions of said side portions that meet in the center of said package and have downwardly depending tabs that separate adjacent spindles within said package.

5. The package of claim 1 wherein each flap in each of said pair of flaps has at least one spindle receiving aperture and said package is adapted to support a plurality of spindles.

6. The package of claim 1 wherein each flap has a portion of an aperture formed therein and said portions form a complete aperture at each end of said package.

7. The package of claim 1 further comprising at least one roll supporting spindle mounted in said package with its ends extending through said apertures and terminating closely adjacent said first portions.

8. The package of claim 1 wherein one flap at each end extends beyond the center of said package and has the entire spindle receiving aperture formed therein.

9. The package of claim 8 wherein the said one flap at one end is secured to one side and the said one flap at the other end is secured to the other side.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,620,810 3/1927 Feigelman 206-52 2,226,603 12/1940 Gagen 206 X 2,531,090 11/1950 Turner 206-65 X 2,860,773 11/1958 Zackheim 206-65 2,959,339 11/1960 Sierk et a1 20658 X 2,864,493 12/1958 Holcombe 20658 X 3,051,307 8/1962 Hoey et al. 206-65 3,144,970 8/1964 Beschmann 20658 X 3,228,519 1/1966 Dong et al. 206-58 3,385,505 5/1968 Beals 229-32 DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,530,980 'September 29, 1970 Martin Link It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, after line 43, insert OTHER REFERENCE German Printed Application No. S 42,008, of March 1, 1956,

to Siegel et al.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of February 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward Fletcher, Jr. Attes tiug Officer Commissioner of Patents 

